8 Tips to Increase Mindfulness By Alana Cheyne Do you ever have such a stuffy nose that you can't taste your food properly? You go through the motions of chewing, swallowing and digesting, but with little pleasure or satisfaction. Well, that's exactly how many of us experience our lives-on autopilot, failing to process the richness and abundance contained within each present moment. The result? A life that feels diluted and joyless. But here's the good news-by practising greater mindfulness, we can bring the magic back to everyday life. Check out these 8 tips for getting the most out of your moments.

Focus on one thing at a time.

In our increasingly hectic lives, multi-tasking has become a badge of honour. We try to maximize our productivity by juggling a million things at once-helping the kids with homework while making dinner and checking our phones while doing, well, pretty much everything. Sometimes multi-tasking is a necessity, but for the most part it simply fragments our focus, increases stress, and reduces our enjoyment of any given task. Whenever possible, try to begin a task and commit to it wholeheartedly. Experience every aspect and see it through to completion before beginning another. This is true of eating, too. Often we're already anticipating the next bite before we've finished the first one! Try shining a focused light of awareness into every moment. You'll accomplish a lot (no frustrating loose ends!) and feel much less frazzled at the end of the day. 2. BreatheOur breath is our very life force. Focusing on our breath is one of the best ways to reconnect to our bodies in the present moment. As you inhale, experience the air entering your nostrils and expanding your belly, your ribs, and finally your lungs. Notice how your body flares and opens as you breathe in. As you exhale, observe the breath slowly leaving your body until your belly contracts. What other sensations do you notice as you breathe? Just pay attention. Wherever you happen to find yourself-on the bus, at your desk-you can root yourself into the moment by finding your breath and following it like an ebbing, flowing wave.3. Pay attention during tedious activitiesLet's face it-life is full of dull, ordinary activities like waiting in line, taking out the garbage, driving, and brushing your teeth. These moments comprise a good portion of our day, so we may as well enjoy them! They carry a lot more joy and texture than meets the eye, as long as we're paying attention. While standing in line at the grocery store, for example, focus on feeling your two feet planted firmly on the ground. Then look around and take it all in-the smell of the woman's perfume in front of you, the auburn curls on her daughter's head. Observe the heap of shiny apples in the produce section and the colourful rows of chocolate bars on the shelf beside you. Stop thinking of the present moment as a means to an end, but rather as a fulfilling experience in its own right-like a living poem.4. Observe the mindThe mind is constantly chattering away, usually about nonsense: What did Susan mean by that comment yesterday? Or, I can't believe I put on 5 lbs! Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by the mind's endlessly distracting thoughts, all of which wrench us away from the present moment. But it's useful to remember that we are not our thoughts-the truer part of our being can step back and observe the mind's chaotic machinations without identifying with them. Whenever you catch your thoughts overtaking you, simply remind yourself: "I am not my mind." From the little space or distance thus created, you then can root yourself back into the moment, following your breath and paying attention to what's happening right then and there. Suddenly your thoughts will have less power over you, leaving you free to just be.5. Accept the moment for what it isMany of us fall into the trap of thinking that peace and happiness come from controlling our external environment. Unfortunately, no matter how perfectly we try to set things up, difficult or unsavoury situations that go against our preferences are an inevitable part of life. The only thing we can change, then, is how we perceive the moment that we're in. If we can face it for exactly what it is and accept it, warts and all, we become the guardians of our own inner harmony. By facing life's realities head-on, without avoidance, distraction or delusion, we can accept each moment gracefully and mindfully for what it is. No longer are we at the mercy of what is going on around us. Imagine if we could access an underlying stream of peace at all times-even if it rains on our special day or a much-anticipated flight gets delayed. What an empowering thought!6. MeditateMeditation can seem intimidating to the uninitiated. But try not to think of it as an attempt to repress every thought, which sounds much more like internal warfare than a peaceful, grounding experience! When thoughts arise, and they do, just observe them rather than getting caught up in all the emotions and chaos they can create. Then let them flutter away, and always come back to your breath. A regular meditation practice, even if it's only 5 minutes a day, will help you tap into your everyday mindfulness exercises with greater ease, and will generally leave you with a sensation of peace and stillness.7. Get CreativeIt feels so good to be in the zone, in flow, enjoying that little sweet spot that comes from doing whatever it is that makes your heart sing. Whether it's cooking, writing, painting, or gardening, try to include your favorite activities into your life as much as possible. Sometimes they take a back seat in our busy lives, but tapping into your sweet spot once in a while will take you straight to the heart of mindfulness-complete absorption in the moment-and leave you feeling rejuvenated.8. Be KindNothing brings us into the moment more than doing something kind for someone else. When we're paying a compliment, offering a meal to a stressed-out neighbour, or writing a thank-you card, we experience a warm, glowing sensation in the body. And one of the kindest gestures we can offer is to simply listen. When you're having a conversation with someone, rather than focusing on your next sentence or on how you're coming across, try giving your whole being over to the other person's story. It's a gift like no other-the gift of your caring, mindful attention, the gift of connection.Remember, mindfulness is a practice. Don't get discouraged if you can't maintain it for long. Keep checking in with yourself at random moments and ask yourself, "Am I being present, or am I lost in the story of my thoughts?" Eventually, over time, being present may begin to feel more natural, and you may notice that you extract more peace, gratitude and joy out of life. Alana Cheyne is a freelance writer (BJ), yoga instructor (RYT200), and co-founder of Arise Wellness Centre in British Columbia, Canada. She enjoys exploring topics that help bring the magic back into everyday life. Alana can be reached at Meditation HQ